Discs to fly at nationals

IT’S been helping Southlanders get more active for the past six months and now the Queens Park disc golf course will host its first national tournament.

The two-day tournament will be held on Saturday and Sunday and will be part of the New Zealand Disc Golf national tour.

As well as a division for experienced players, the tournament will also include junior and recreational grades.

Disc Golf South president Martin Conway said having junior and recreational grades meant the tournament was perfect for anyone wanting to not only come along and have a go, but also watch some highly skilled players in action.

Conway described the 18-basket course as short, but tight and challenging, which “promises to be a fascinating contest”.

“There will be a four-round singles tournament, played over two days (twice around the 18-hole rounds on Saturday and twice on Sunday), with Saturday’s rounds only being unseeded.

“There will also be a recreational division, which will be great for people starting out in the sport, for those who want to take part in the event, but don’t want to play the entire weekend, which will be held over two rounds on Sunday.”

However, everyone was welcome, whether as a spectator or competitor, to come along to the whole weekend, he said.

Entries had already been confirmed from as far away as Tauranga and the tournament was expected to attract more than 60 players from throughout New Zealand, he said.

Funding for the tournament had come from the Invercargill Licensing Trust, the Invercargill Licensing Trust Foundation and Kiwisport. Funding had covered the cost of trophies and other items, as well as the entry fee and disc golf starter packs for the junior entries.

Having the free entry and three free discs for the junior entries, thanks to Kiwisport, was fantastic because it would help encourage younger players to take up the sport, Conway said.

Anyone wanting to enter the tournament or find out more about Disc Golf South should visit the club’s Facebook page.